Make
your home buyer-friendly with
these important tips
Selling
a home is probably one of the biggest transactions you will ever make.
Attracting the right buyer is no easy task. Before you even begin to
think about contacting a real estate agent, be prepared to spend some
time cleaning, packing, repairing, painting, replacing, and clearing
out.
Making
your home's interior presentable is much more than a thorough cleaning.
A home that is on the market should be a blank palette, one that potential
buyers will see as theirs--not yours. In other words, you're going to
turn your house into a model home.
Here
are a few suggestions that will help eliminate the clutter and clear
the path for a quicker sale.
- Get
rid of collections; i.e., crystal, miniatures, and knickknacks - anything
that is sitting out in groups on tables or in open cabinets.
- Remove
all family pictures and mementos from walls and on tabletops. This includes
awards, trophies, and plaques - anything listing your name.
- Take
down those refrigerator magnets. Pack up all non-essential kitchen appliances
and stash those you must keep under the counters.
- Trim
houseplants of dead foliage and get rid of any plants that are struggling.
- If
you have kids, keep only toys they cannot live without; this won't be
an easy one, but box up all unused items.
- Another
tough area - make sure the garage is free of extra tools. Keep those
that are visible hung neatly on pegs or nails or out of the way.
- Start
using up the canned goods in the pantry and only replace the necessities.
- Nice
art can stay, but remove any small groupings that might add to the clutter.
- Consider,
at this point, renting an off-site storage unit on a month-to-month
basis. Your main objective is to help potential buyers envision their
things in your home. Closets filled with personal items or stacked to
the ceiling with boxes wil only detract. A bonus is that your move will
go much more smoothly with the pre-sale packing.
- Remove
extra clothing from closets and stow away.
- Keep
furniture to a bare minimum; send excess side chairs and the love seat
to storage. Pack away books and take the bookcases to storage as well.
- If
any room has a dark corner, set up a small table with a lamp. You want
every bit of your home to look bright and cheery, regardless of time
of day.
Now
that personal effects and clutter are gone, it will be easier to complete
these steps:
- Paint,
paint, and more paint. New paint covers flaws, chips, and dust and the
fresh smell is enticing to a potential buyer. Keep colors pastel and
get rid of any oddball or bright colors.
- Replace carpet if worn; at a minimum, have it professionally cleaned.
- Check all internal/external doors. They should open and close smoothly.
Make sure the keys turn easily in locks.
- Clean out and paint the fireplace interior.
- Replace chipped or cracked tiles. If grout is worn and dirty, cover
with a grout stain in the next darkest color.
- Dust the tops of all vanity lights and make sure all bulbs throughout
the house are working. Keep replacements on hand for any last-minute
outage.
- Repair drippy faucets and remove lime deposits.
- Make sure all toilets flush easily. Potential buyers feel like they
need to test things that are within easy reach and will often flush
the toilet just to do something.
- Eliminate pet odors. If carpet has been soiled, soak with vinegar
and then clean as usual. Pet hairs can be a serious deterrent; vacuum
all surface areas regularly.
- Splurge on a nice front door mat; no wording, just a neutral pattern.
-
Now, you are ready to contact a real estate agent. Here's how to make
them work for you and also make their job easier.
- On
the first walk-through with your agent, serve hors d'oeuvres and refreshments.
Select nice bottles of red and white wines; have glasses out, and ready
to serve. They'll not only be impressed, but will know that you're ready
to do what it takes to make a sale.
- Your agent may request a group walk-through with other agents. This
is common practice in larger real estate firms. Have cookies and soft
drinks available for the walk-through.
- Do not light candles or create artificial smells. A light vanilla
or cinnamon scent is acceptable, however.
- Do not have music on: no radios, stereos, or television.
- Fresh flowers or a fruit bowl on a kitchen counter and dining room
table add a nice touch.
- Turn on all lights and open all drapes and blinds.
- Create a short checklist to use before each visit by a potential buyer.
Make sure everything is dust-free and orderly.
While
there are no guarantees for selling a home quickly, these suggestions
should help make your home most appealing to a potential buyer.
Helpful
Articles:
Preparing the Exterior of Your Home
for Sale
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